Paths to career success; U.S. tax rates

/ Getty Images

/ Getty Images

U-T San Diego

There are other paths to career success

In our overpriced, four-year-college-degree-obsessed culture, it was refreshing to read the article by UCSD’s Mary Walshok (“A solution for America’s shrinking middle class,” Aug. 31) in which she states “It’s time to stop thinking that the 4-year college degree is the only path to a good job and middle class life” and consider lower-cost technical and trade school training instead.

Lots of recent college graduates with liberal arts degrees are working at dead-end, minimum-wage jobs today, while trying to pay off their crushing student loan debt.

At the same time, we have a shortage of highly skilled technicians and tradesmen, whose unfilled jobs are stimulating and good paying. My plumber and auto mechanic both earn more than $100,000 per year.

The first question that all enrolled students should ask is, “What kinds of jobs will be available in the marketplace upon my graduation?” — not, “How pretty or prestigious is my college?”

David MillerCarlsbad

U.S. tax rate not just random number

What would a competitive corporate tax rate be? Charles Krauthammer (“Lower corporate tax rates now,” Aug. 31) didn’t say. Tax reducers never do say what enough taxation would be. They know that whatever the rate is, it is too big, but they seem not to know what “just right” might be.

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Angola, Argentina and Malta are at 35 percent. Russia, Iceland and Croatia are at 20 percent; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gibraltar and Macedonia are at 10 percent. Eight nations have no corporate tax rate at all, among them Vanuatu, Guernsey and the Bahamas.

I suspect there is no “just right.” I suspect the corporate tax rate in the U.S. is a reflection of need. Perhaps when we arm and police the world, there is greater need. Perhaps when we provide a small old-age pension far beyond what most people contribute, there is greater need. Perhaps when we operate a full-time government that costs billions for little result, there is greater need.

Charles Krauthammer is a good and smart fellow who, like many folks who make their living off published opinion, look for what opinion sells best.

Our president needs to do more than talk

Amateur drone use poses a danger

Stories about drone use and laws (“Up in the air,” Aug. 31) never discuss safety and that is a very important issue. Drones are being used more and more to film events that attract crowds — music concerts, road races, etc.

I work out with 3-pound dumbbells and I would not want to drop one on my head. If a 3-pound drone fell on someone’s head from a height of 30-50 feet, it could do a whole lot of damage. I favor laws that prohibit drone operation by amateur pilots in populated areas.

Diane ScholfieldVista

More concern shown for dogs than women

Regarding “Dog-kicking CEO of Centerplate is out,” Sept. 2: What has this world come to when dogs have more protection than women? The recent incident involving Ray Rice shown dragging an unconscious women (his fiancee) out of an elevator resulted in a two-game suspension.

Last week, another player was accused of beating his pregnant fiancée and the NFL has announced these types of abuses will now result in a six-game suspension.

What would have happened to these same to players if they had been caught beating their dogs instead of women? That person is subjected to hate mail, losing their jobs and quite possibly effecting their ability to earn a living.

Compare this to the punishment an athlete receives for doing something similar to a women. It is a sad day when there is more outrage over harm to a dog than a pregnant woman.